WHY ARE MANY SICK IN THE CHURCH TODAY? (PART 3)
TEXTS:
"For he that eateth and drinketh unworthily, eateth and drinketh damnation to himself, not discerning the Lord's body. For this cause many are weak and sickly among you, and many sleep." (1st Corinthians 11 verses 29 to 30, King James Version
"And they shall take of the blood, and strike it on the two side posts and on the upper door post of the houses, wherein they shall eat it. And they shall eat the flesh in that night, roast with fire, and unleavened bread; and with bitter herbs they shall eat it." (Exodus chapter 12 verses 7 to 8, King James Version).
In the second Scripture reading for today, we see God's instructions to Moses about the Passover Lamb that was to be killed prelude to Israel's departure from Egypt to the Promised Land. They were to kill it and to strike its blood on the two doorposts and on the upper door post of their houses, and eat its flesh.
Like I said the other day, we have been taught so much about the significance of the lamb's blood so much that we have unbelievably forgotten about eating its flesh. In Egypt, among the Israeli people the Lamb's flesh was significant because the eating of it ministered physical strength to everyone that ate it as they journeyed to the Promised Land. Eating the lamb's flesh had nothing to do with the passing of the destroyer. The blood was enough antidote for the destruction that came from the angel of death that passed through the land. This being so because God said in Exodus 12 verse 13,
"when I see the blood, I will pass over you, and the plague shall not be upon you to destroy you, when I smite the land of Egypt."
Like I said, the flesh of the Lamb had its significance. Israel was beginning a journey, which was a type of our Christian journey through life. The plan of God for us as it was for Israel is that we be strong in our journey of life. In Egypt, as they partook in the Passover, the Lamb's flesh (or body) they ate became part of their individual bodies, ministering life and strength unto them. In other words, the body of the Lamb became flesh of their flesh and bone of their bones. For us Christians, Jesus is our Passover Lamb and as believers, the Bible says that "we are members of his body, of his flesh, and of his bones." (1st Corinthians 5 verse 7 and Ephesians 5 verse 30).
In John chapter 6 verse 53, the Lord Jesus emphatically told us saying,
"Verily, verily, I say unto you, Except ye eat the flesh of the Son of man, and drink his blood, ye have no life in you." The Lord reiterates further saying, "As the living Father hath sent me, and I live by the Father: so he that eateth me, even he shall live by me." (John 6 verse 57). In summary, this is to mean that the Body of the Lord Jesus is meant to be eaten. So also is His Blood meant to be drunken.
According to the Lord Jesus, when you eat His Body, you have life in you and you therefore live by Him. This is to say in other words that His Life becomes replicated in your life, and particularly in your body; you become like Him, never sick. This is in line with 2nd Corinthians 4 verses 10 and 11 which says "that the life also of Jesus might be made manifest in our mortal flesh (body)" (Emphasis added). Otherwise, 1st John 4 verse 17 which says "... as he is, so are we in this world." will be meaningless. It follows that if the Lord Jesus wasn't sick, you also have no reason to be sick.
We partake of that same body of Christ, in type, each time we sit to eat the bread in the Communion service. Faith recognizes that fact and claims the promised benefit of a strong and healthy body, free from pain, weakness, sickness and disease.
The ignorance of this fact is what Apostle Paul said was the reason for the many weak and sickly people in the Church at Corinth. According to the Apostle, they were guilty of treating the Holy Communion with levity "not discerning the Lord's body" (1st Corinthians 11 verses 29 to 30)
But as soon as the Old Testament Church in Egypt ate the Passover Lamb's body and began their journey the very next day, they became physically strong and whole, with no sicknesses or infirmities whatsoever. And according to the Bible, “there was not one feeble person among their tribes.” (Psalms 105 stanza 37).
As a Christian, this also is your lot and portion. You have a right to live and stay healthy in Christ Jesus. This is God's will for you in Him. If this was so in the Old Testament, it is even more so in the New Testament.
PRAYER:
Dearest Heavenly Father, thank You for giving me to properly discern the Lord's Body, for the benefit of my life and body, in Jesus name.